I take meeting notes and jots in plaintext. I like to have deeper thoughts and observations on paper, often a journal. When I need to synthesize a vague idea, I

I take meeting notes and jots in plaintext. I like to have deeper thoughts and observations on paper, often a journal. When I need to synthesize a vague idea, I will jot pieces down on index cards and shuffle them around. For what it's worth, I tend to reflect on my systems every year (now) and revise. I try to stick to the new system for the year, and it works quite well. No 'distro-hopping' of productivity hacks. On plaintext notes: I once worked with a VP who had a very specific approach to something. Years later, she is CEO and I am a consultant. I was able to pull up her requirements and deliver exactly what she needed. On paper notes: Last New Year's Eve, I reviewed my journals from 2006 to today (my wife was asleep, I was bored). It was fascinating to see arcs and patterns that you would not if recorded electronically. Flipping pages, seeing handwriting change, these subtle clues cannot be dismissed. Hope this helps.